Compartmented container



Oct. 5, 1948. J. H. CASSIDY ETAL 2,450,419

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1943 INVENTORS Jbhn H- Gassidy Reed M. Grunden J rg i z Oct. 5, 1948i J. H. CASSIDY ETAL COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1945 INVENTORS John H- dassidy Reed M. Grurwlen BY M v- Puc 6 ATTORNEY 1948. J. H. CA-SSIDY ETAL COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER 4 ShetS-Sheet 5 Filed May 18, 1943 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I'rdllllilllillllav;lllvinlrll;lll!ll n ye M? s s sa Y 0 MHM n v A M w R VI B Oct. 5, 1948. J. H. CASSIDY ETAL 2,450,419

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER Filed May 18; 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 9- INVENTORS John If; Cassia!- Reed M. Grunden BY M v- 7Ze ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 5, 1948 COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER John H. Cassidy and Reed M. Grunden, Sandusky, Ohio, assignors to The Hinde 6: Dauch Paper Company, Sandusky, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 18, 1943, Serial No. 487,472 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to containers constructed or sheet material such as paperboard and particularly to a two-compartment container suitable for use as an egg case.

The present invention has for an object to provide a collapsible container which has a bottom so constructed as to hold the upright walls square, eliminate shearing stresses in the walls and efiectively distribute loads imposed upon the bottom to the side walls.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knock-down container with a partition member which is detachably secured in the container and which is held in place by means of interior side wall flaps.

A further object is to provide in a container of the character referred to, a detachable partition member which carries independently movable lids for the two compartments of the container.

A further object is to provide a container of i the paperboard type in which the upper edges of the end walls are reinforced by several thicknesses of sheet material which provide pockets to receive tuck-in lid flanges and thickened wall portions in which hand grip openings may be formed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the container as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described and particularly setjorth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the combined partition and cover member;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container in partially assembled condition, the combined partition and cover member being omitted, the side wall flaps being shown in extended position and one of the interior bottom flaps being shown in substantially upright position;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line indicated at 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the bottom stiffening keys; I

Fig, 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line indicated at '|-'l in Fig. 1, the bottom of the box being shown inplan with parts broken away to show underlying parts;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the container body is formed; s

Fig. 9 is a sectional perspective view showing a container with a bottom of slightly modified construction;

Fig. 10 is a section taken at ill-ill in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a plan viewof the blank from which the box of Fig. 9 is made. 7

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown applied to an elongated two-compartment on the line indicated 7 egg case which has side walls I and end walls 2.

The container is formed of suitable sheet material, such as corrugated paperboard, and the side and end walls are preferably made in one piece, the side walls being integral with the end walls at three corners of the container. At the fourth corner a side edgeof an end wall 2 is provided with a flange 3 (see Figure 8) which is secured interiorly to the end of the contiguous side wall i by suitable means, such as staples 4. The end walls 2 have full width extensions hinged to the bottom-edges thereof, each consisting of two supporting flaps 5, preferably of equal width separated by a narrow slot 6 extending from the free edge of the extension to the hinge line parallel with the outer edges of the flaps 5. Each of the side walls I has a foldable bottom extension I which extends the full length of its bottom edge. The outer half of each of the bottom extensions 1 is in the form of a flap 8 which is hingedly connected to the inner portion of the extension 1 and adapted to be folded back upon the upper side of said inner portion. The bottom extensions of the side and end walls are adapted to be swung to horizontal position between the side walls, and the flap 8 are adapted to be inserted through the slots 6 between the flaps 5 and to be folded back upon the top faces of the flaps with their free edges contiguous to the side walls I.

The side walls I have upper extensions each in the form of two flaps 9 separated by narrow slots III between the ends of 9 are adapted to be swung inwardly against the interior faces of the side walls I and are of a length such that their free edges have frictional engagement with the upper faces of the flaps 8 adjacent the side walls. The interior side wall flaps 9 serve to hold the bottom flaps I down against the top faces of the supporting flaps 5. The foldable bottom extensions I form sections of the container bottom, the foldable bottom sections being of a width such that their edge creases abut along the longitudinal center line 01' the container.

The foldable bottom sections and supporting flaps provide a bottom of triple thickness, which reinforces the side walls. However, it is desirable that stiflening means be provided intermediate the end walls to resist relative endwise movements of the bottom sections, which would create shearing stresses on the end walls, and to resistv forces tending to cause relative vertical movements of the bottom sections which would put heavy strain on the hinge connections between the end walls and the supporting flaps. Asshown in'Figs. 6 and 7 the bottom stiffening means comprises suitable flat keys II which are inserted through registering slots I: in the creases of the bottom sections 1. The keys I I, which may each be in the form of a flat paperboard strip folded upon itself to provide a stiffening member of adequate rigidity, are inserted through the slots I2 after the flaps 8 have been inserted through the slots 6 and before the flaps I have been bent back to horizontal position, thekeys II lying upon the top faces of the flaps I and beneath the flaps I. The keys II because of their fit in the side walls, The flaps I and to properly distribute loads imposed upon the bottom of the container.

The body of the container may be formed from a single flat blank of sheet material such as shown in Fig. 8. After the upright walls I and 2 have been joined by attaching the flange I to a side wall I, the bottom of the container may be assembled by first swinging the supportin flaps I to horizontal position, then inserting the flaps 8 through the slot 6 and inserting the keys II in the slots I2 to hold the bottom ,members 1 against the under faces of the flaps, after which the interior side wall flaps 9 are swung down against the flaps I to force the flaps 8 to horizontal position and to hold the flaps 8 in such position as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 10.

The container body is adapted to be knocked down for shipment by opening the bottom and then collapsing the upright walls. 'To facilitate the opening of the bottom, the interior side wall 'flapst are provided with finger notches I3 at the free edges thereof and the bottom flaps 8 are provided with similar notches I4.

The container of the present invention is preferably provided with a combined partition and cover member which divides the container into two compartments, and provides a separate lid for each compartment. The combined partition and cover has partition panels l5 which are disposed back-to-back. The panels II are of a width to bridge the space between the side walls I of the container, the ends of the panels It being sections, and by reason of the fact that they bridge the joint between the bottom sections inwardly of the end walls 2, they resist relative vertical movements of the bottom sections. The container bottom stiffened by means such as the keys II holds the container square and effectively distributes the load imposed upon the bottom to the upright walls of the container.

An alternative means of stiffening the container bottom is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11 of the drawings in which the end walls 2 have hinged bottom extensions 28 each provided with a slot to extending inwardly from its free edge and terminating at a point -spaced from the hinge line at the bottom edge of the end wall to provide two supporting flaps la, preferably of equal.

width, which do not extend the full length of the extension. The foldable bottom extensions 1 of the side walls are provided with interior flaps 8a which are of less length than the body portions of the extensions I, the flaps to being of a length to fit in the aligned slots Ia when the extensions 23 are in horizontal position. As shown in Fig. 9, the portions of the extensions II adjacent the end walls 2 are continuous from one side wall of the container to the other and bridge the joint between the bottom members inwardly of the end walls 2. The continuous inner portions of the extensions 23 resist relative vertical movements of the bottom members for the reason that the? bridge the joint between the bottom sections inwardly of the end walls 2 and, since the flaps to fit in the slots in with their end edges engaging the inner ends of the slots, the bridge portions of the extensions 23 resist relative endwise movement of the bottom sections. The bottom wall as stifl'ened serves to hold the container walls sq re received in the slots III between the panels 9. The panels I5 each have anchoring flanges I6 along their opposite edges whichare adapted to lie flat against the interior faces of the opposite side walls I of the container beneath the interior flaps 9 which look the partition-in place by their engagement with the flanges I6 and with the outer faces of the panels II. The combined partition and cover is preferably formed of a single piece of sheet material folded upon itself to form the partition'panels II. I

Each of the panels I! .has a lid I'I hinged to its upper edge. The lids I! extend in opposite directions from the panels 15 and are adapted to cover the two compartments of the container. Each lid I1 is preferably somewhat wider than the partition panel II to which it is hinged, so that the side edges of the lid I! are adapted to overlie the top edges of the side walls I of the container. Each lid II has a tapered tuck-in flange It at its free end, which is adapted to engage in a pocket formed by a plaited reinforcement I9 at the top edge of an end wall.

As shown in Fig. 8, the plaited reinforcements I! are formed by integral top extensions of the end walls 2, which are folded upon themselves to provide a plurality of superposed plaits overlying the top edge portions of the eri walls 2. The extensions are folded down from the top edges of the end walls 2 to provide an inner rounded edge Ha, the outer end of each extension is folded back upon itself to provide an outer rounded edge lab, and the doubled end is folded back against the inner plait to provide three superposed reinforcing plaits across the top portions of each end wall and to position the rounded edges lib alongside the rounded edges I911. The superposed plaits are secured to the end walls by suitable fastening means, such as staples 20, which are located at the ends and along the bottom" edges of the plaits, leaving the rounded top edges I9a and I9!) of the plaits unattached between the ends'thereof, so that a narrow elongated pocket is formed along the top edge of each end wall which is adapted to receive the tuck-in flange l8 of a lid I1. The rounded edges I9a and I9b facilitate the entry of the flanges l'l into the pockets formed by the plaits and the ti fit of the flanges H in the pockets serves to retain the lids in closed position.

Hand grip holes 2| are formed through the end walls 2 and reinforcement 19 and the tuck-in flanges I8 of the lids may be provided with notches 22 which register with the holes 2| when the lids I l are in closed position. To facilitate the opening of the lids I I, the lids may be provided with finger holes 24 adjacent their free ends to facilitate the lifting of the lids to free the tuck-in flanges Hi from their pockets.

In assembling the container, the combined partition and cover member is positioned between the side walls I with the panels l5 before the interior side wall flaps 9 are swung down into place, so that when the flaps 9 are swung into place against the interior faces of the side walls, the partition member is secured in place by engagement of flaps 9 with the panels I5 and the anchoring flanges l6. I

It will be understood that numerous modifications of the constructions herein shown and described may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A container having side and end walls. a pair of supporting flaps hinged to the bottom edge of each end wall and adapted to occupy horizontal positions between the lower edges of the side walls with the flaps of each pair adjacent opposite side walls, a foldable bottom extension hinged to each side wall and having an interior fiap folded against the top faces of the adjacent supporting flaps with its free edge contiguous to the side wall to form a section of the container bottom, a pair of interior flaps hinged to the top edge of each side wall and adapted to be folded against the interior of the sidewall with their free edges engaging the top face of an interior bottom flap adjacent its free edge, and a partition having opposite side edge portions disposed between the interior flaps of opposite side walls, said partition having anchoring flanges at its opposite side edges underlying interior side wall flaps.

2. A container having side and end walls. a pair of supporting flaps hinged to the bottom edge of each end wall and adapted to occupy horizontal positions between the lower edges of the side walls with the flaps of each pair adjacent opposite side walls, a foldable bottom extension hinged to each side wall and having an interior flap folded against the top faces of the adjacent supporting fiaps with its free edge contiguous to the side wall to form a section of the container bottom, a pair of interior flaps hinged to the top edge of each side wall and adapted to be folded against the interior of the side wall with their free edges engaging the top face of an interior bottom flap adjacent its free edge, and a combined partition and cover having a body portion forming an upright partition positioned with its opposite side edge portions disposed between the interlor flaps of opposite side walls and oppositely extending lids hinged to the top of said body portion, said body portion having anchoring flanges at its opposite side edges unflnshktnterior side wall flaps.

ntainer having side and end walls, a

posed between the interior flaps of opposite pair of supporting flaps hinged to the bottom edge of each end wall and adapted to occupy horizontal positions between the lower edges of the side walls with the flaps of each pair adjacent opposite side walls, a foldable bottom extension hinged to each side wall and having an interior flap folded againstthe top faces of the adjacent supporting flaps with its free edge contiguous to the side wall to form a section of the container bottom, a pair of interior flaps hinged to the top edge of each side wall with their free edges engaging the top face of an interior bottom flap adjacent its free edge, bottom stiffening means inwardly of said end walls for resisting relative vertical or endwise movement of the adjoining edges of said bottom sections, and "a partition having opposite side edge portions disside walls, said partition having anchoring flanges at its opposite side edges underlying interior side wall flaps.

4. A container having side and end walls, a pair of supporting flaps hinged to the bottom edge of each end wall and adapted to occupy horizontal positions between the lower edges of the side walls with the flaps of each pair adjacent opposite side walls, a foldable bottom extension hinged to each side wall and having a crease extending from one end to the other thereof to provide an interior flap adapted to be folded against the top faces of the adjacent supporting flaps with its free edge contiguous to the side wall to form a section of the container bottom, said creases forming the contiguous inner edges of the bottom sections and having registering slots spaced longitudinall thereof, interior flaps hinged to the top edges of the side walls and adapted to be folded against the interior faces of said walls with their free edges engaging the top faces of the interior bottom flaps adjacent the free edges thereof, and elongated fiat keys extending transversely through said slots, said keys underlying the interior flaps of the bottom sections, and overlyin said supporting flaps.

5. In a container having bottom, side and end walls, a combined partition and cover having a .body portion adapted to provide an upright partition across the space between the side walls and lids for the two compartments of the container hinged to the body portion and extending in opposite directions therefrom, said body portion having edge flanges adapted to engage the interior faces of the side walls and said side walls having interior flaps hinged to the top edges of the side walls and having inner side edges contiguous to the partition forming portion of said member, said flaps having free edges engageable with the container bottom to frictionally hold said flaps against said side walls and flanges.

6. In a container having bottom, side and end walls, a combined partition and cover member having a body portion adapted to provide an upright partition across the space between the side walls and lids for the two compartments of the container hinged to the body portion and extendin in opposite directions therefrom, said member being formed of a single piece of sheet material folded midway between its ends to provide panels arranged back-to-back and forming said body portion, said lids being hingedly joined to said panels and said panels having edge flanges adapted to engage the interior faces of the side walls, said side walls having interior flaps hinged to the top edges oi the side walls and havin inner side edges contiguous to the partition forming portion of said member, said flaps overlying said flanges and having free edges engageable with the container bottom to frictionafly hold said flaps against said side walls and flanges. JOHN H. CASBIDY.

REED M. GRUNDEN.

REFERENCES cum The following references are oi record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,960,947 Lauth et a1 May 29, 1934 1,965,215. Boeye July 3, 1934 Number 

